Poppy Bear, our last ABR cub of 2013, was worked up for release recently.  Before we show you the photos of her workup, we’ll post a couple of recent images of our last cub.

Poppy Bear in Wild Enclosure, November.

Poppy Bear “glamour shot” by ABR photographer.

The next photos were taken on the day she was worked up to leave ABR behind and return home.

Preparing to sedate the cub.

Poppy is sedated.

Curator Coy checks sedated Poppy.

Poppy on stretcher.

Poppy weighs 84 pounds!

Curator Coy puts ointment on her ears.

Poppy’s eyes are covered. Sedated cubs don’t blink,

He takes measurements.

Back paw.

Front paw with claws.

Paperwork for the transfer.

Her transfer pen is lined with leaves.  She is still asleep.

And off they went.  Goodbye, Poppy Bear!  Good luck in your new life!

(In the background of a couple of these photos, you can see the float that volunteers were decorating for the Gatlinburg and Townsend Christmas parades.  We’ll post pictures of the completed float soon.)